Legendary Agent Richard Leibner, Who Signed Some of Media’s Biggest Stars, Dies at 85

Photo by Mark Von Holden/Invision for The Hollywood Reporter/AP Images

Talent agent Richard Leibner passed away on Tuesday at the age of 85 after a battle with cancer.

Leibner was known for representing some of media’s biggest voices like Dan Rather, Mike Wallace, Brian Stelter, Diane Sawyer, and more.

Celebrated from Hollywood to New York as a pre-eminent super agent, Leibner worked with the major names at cable news networks like MSNBC, CNN, and Fox News. Famously, he was behind a push to replace Walter Cronkite with Dan Rather at 60 Minutes.

Leibner, who retired in 2021, founded N.S. Bienstock, which became a powerhouse agency in media representation. It would eventually be bought by UTA in 2014.

Leibner is survived by wife and fellow longtime agent Carole Cooper, two sons, Adam and Jonathan, and four grandchildren. Cooper and Adam Leibner work at UTA and previously worked at Bienstock with Richard. Richard Leibner and Carole Cooper were inducted into the Broadcasting Hall of Fame in 2018.

UTA vice chairman Jay Sures addressed Leibner’s passing in an internal memo obtained by Mediaite:

It is with great sadness that I share the news of the passing of our former colleague Richard Leibner earlier today. He died peacefully at his home in New York City with his wife (our colleague) Carole Cooper, and his two sons (UTA TV Broadcast partner) Adam and his brother Jonathan by his side.

Richard will be remembered as the agent who transformed the news business. Decades ago, he made it his personal mission to see that big name news stars should be treated and compensated like traditional movie and television stars. Over the years, he signed and represented some of the best and brightest and most iconic names including Dan Rather, Mike Wallace, Ed Bradley, Morley Safer, Bob Simon, Steve Kroft, Bill Whitaker, Diane Sawyer, Chuck Scarborough, Paula Zahn, Brian Stelter, Fareed Zakaria, and many others.

Richard began his career in 1963 with a master’s degree in taxation from NYU, a B.S. in Accounting from University of Rochester, and a C.P.A. license. After working for his family’s accounting firm for a few years, he co-founded N.S. Bienstock with his former partner, Nate Bienstock, and together they built the premier powerhouse agency in news and broadcast talent representation. For his many years of service as an agent, he was inducted into the Broadcasting and Cable Hall of Fame in 2018.

After Carol came aboard the firm, she too became a super-agent in the world of broadcast representation. UTA purchased Bienstock in 2014. Years later, Richard retired and lucky for us, Carole and Adam continue on to this day helping us execute Richard’s original vision.

To say that Richard was iconic and larger than life is an understatement. He was truly one of a kind and he will be missed. Funeral services will be announced shortly. In the meantime, let’s all celebrate Richard’s life and accomplishments while at the same time keeping the Leibner/Cooper family in our thoughts and prayers.

Public condolences were shared quickly by media personalities after news broke of Leibner’s passing.

“There’s so much I want to say about Richard. He was my agent for many years. More importantly, he was my friend, mentor and most reliable viewer,” Stelter wrote on X, formerly Twitter.

He previously described Leibner as “like a father” in a statement released when the agent retired.

“My heart breaks—- RIP Richard; sending infinite love to Carole, Adam and Jonathan,” MSNBC’s José Díaz-Balart wrote.

UTA Vice Chairman Jay Sures released a statement, which Stelter shared, calling Leibner someone who “transformed the news business.”

“Decades ago, he made it his personal mission to see that big name news stars should be treated and compensated like traditional movie and television stars. Over the years, he signed and represented some of the best and brightest and most iconic names including Dan Rather, Mike Wallace, Ed Bradley, Morley Safer, Bob Simon, Steve Kroft, Bill Whitaker, Diane Sawyer, Chuck Scarborough, Paula Zahn, Brian Stelter, Fareed Zakaria, and many others,” the statement reads.